Electrically operated shutoff valve



April 18, 1950 L. KBMBALL CLLY OPWTED S-TJTOFF VALVE Filed June 22,3.948

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Patented Apr. 18, 1950 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SHUTOFF VALVE LinwoodKimball, Danvers, Mass., signor te Buggies-Klingemann Mfg. Co., Salem,Mass.

Application June 22, 1948, Serial No. 34,460

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-139) My invention relates to electrically operatedshut-oil valves for oil burners and for general application where suchvalves `are applicable. More specifically it relates to shut-ofi' valveswhich will close on failure of electric current and remain closed aftercurrent has been restored until manually reset.

The object of the invention is to provide an electrically operatedshut-off valve,`of simple construction, which can be produced at a lowcost of manufacture, which is positive in its operation.

To accomplish these objects I have devised a novel arrangement formanually re-setting the valve which consists of displacing the magneticcoil, in relation to the position of a movable magnetic core, disposedin a duid-tight casing and operating as the valve opening and closingmeans.

To carry out the objects of my invention, the various elements areassociated as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates my invention, wherein a twopiece magnetic core isemployed, the object of which will be explained later.

Fig. 2 illustrates a similar embodiment to that of Fig. 1 with theexception that the upper part of the magnetic core is stationary, thelower end extending into the magnetic iield of the electric coil.

Referring to Fig. l. Valve casing i has an inner valve 2, shown asclosing orifice 3 which connects inlet 4 with outlet 5. A fluidtightnonmagnetic tube 6, is pressed into valve cap 'I and pressure sealed atits lower end. A magnetizable pole cap 8 closes the top of tube 6 andhas a threaded portion with an adjustable nut 9, the purpose of whichwill be explained later.

Within the non-magnetic tube 6 is a magneticable floating core III and amagnetizable valve operating core IIIA, both of which are mounted onvalve stem II. Valve stem Il has a collar I2; which provides a. iixedlimit of movement for magnetic core, IOA, between collar I2 and valvehead 2. A solenoid coil I3 is mounted on the outside of tube 6 and isenclosed in a magnetic casing I4. This coil I3 is held in place by` aconical shaped spring I5 pressing on magnetic plate I8.

In the operation of my invention the magnetic coil I3 is normallyelevated to such a position, that when the valve operating magnetic coreIIIA is de-magnetized, it drops in closing valve orifice 3, to aposition which is out of the path of the magnetic pull and thereforewill not be aiiected by the resumption of electric current. However, asthe current again comes back on the coil I3, the floating core I0. whichis never entirely out of the magnetic iield, will be attracted to a 2iloating position within the magnetic coil, thus cutting down thecurrent through coil I3 and avoiding an excessive heat rise.

The manual resetting operation, after current has been restored, is todepress the coil against the retaining spring I5, thus placing the coilin a position to magnetize valve operating core Il and cause it to risewith the coil Il; as the same is returned to its normal position. Thepurpose of adjustable nut 9 is to so position the coil I3 as to placethe same in the most advantageous position in relation to voltage andthe pressure to be overcome in unseating inner valve 2.

The type of valve shown in Fig. 1 is best suited for A. C. current, asthe magnetic cores never make metal to metal contact, but float whenenergized in the magnetic field and therefore avoid A. C. hum.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the illustration shows the operating coildepressed, as in its manual operation in picking up the magnetic corefor opening the valve. The arrangement is quite similar to Fig. l, withthe exception that pole cap IA extends into the coil winding when thesame is ln its normal position and therefore does not require thefloating magnetic core I0, as shown in Fig. 1. The clearance between theupper end of core IIIA of Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and collar I2 on stem II, isto allow core IOA to move upward a short distance before contactingcollar I2 and thereby gain the necessary momentum to unseat valve 2.This hammer blow action also aids in seating of valve 2, both .core I 0and IIA being slidably mounted on valve stem I I.

Due to the construction of spring I5, the coll I3 can be compressed to aposition where maximum pull is obtained; which permits easier openingwith a lower rated coil, than would normally be required.

While I have illustrated and described my invention in relation to ashut-oil.' valve of the type shown, I desire to have it understood thatthe invention is equally applicable to other types of valves or devices;for example electric switches and the like. .l desire therefore, thatonly such limitations shall be imposed, as are indicated in the appendedclaims. .l

I claim as my invention.:

l. In combination with a device to be operated. operating means mountedon said device, comprising a vertical tube of non-magnetic material. anoperating stem within said tube, a collar on said stem, a core ofmagnetica-ble material freely reciprocable between said collar and thedevice to n be operated, a. second core of magnetizable material mountedon said stem above said collar and 3 yin spaced relation to the firstnamed core, a solenoid coil slidable on said tube, spring meanssupported on said tube for biasing said coil in spaced relation to saidcores, means for connecting said coil to a source of electric currentwhereby the second named core is operated to within the magnetic fieldof the coil, means manually operated for depressing the coil to aposition surrounding the ilrst named core to energize the same, thearrangement being such that when the coil is returned to its formerspring biased position the first named core is operated against saidcollar and ln contact with the second named core thereby eiectingoperation of the device to be operated.

2. In combination, a member to be operated, a

support for said member, a stem for operating said member, a collar onsaid stem,a core of magnetizable material mounted on said stem andfreely reciprocated between said collar and said member, a second coreof magnetizable material freely mounted on said stem above said collarand vin spaced relation to the iirst named core, a tube of non-magneticmaterial mounted on the supporting member within which said coi'esoperate, a solenoid coil slidable on said tube, spring means adapted tobias said coil in spaced relation to the said magnetic cores, means forconnecting the solenoid coil to a source of electric current to energizethe same, the arrangement being such that when the coil is energized thesecond named core is attracted to a position within the magnetic fieldof the coil, and when the coil is depressed to a position surroundingthe rst named core the same is energized and when the coil is returnedto its former biased position the core is attracted against said collarand in contact with the second named core thereby operating said member.

3. In an electrically operated valve comprising in combination, a valvecasing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve orifice intermediate theinlet and outlet, a valve seat, an inner valve adapt ed to engage saidseat, a stem for operating said inner valve, a collar on said stem, acore of magnetizable material mounted on said stem and freelyreciprocable between said collar and said inner valve, a second coremagnetizable material freely mounted on said stem above said collar andin spaced relation to the first named core, a tube of non-magneticmaterial vertically mounted on said valve casing and closed at its upperend within which said cores operate, a solenoid 'coil slidable on saidtube, spring means adapted to bias said coil in spaced relation to thesaid magnetic cores, means for connecting the solenoid coil to a sourceof electric current to energize the same, the arrangement being suchthat when the coil is energized the second named core is attracted to aposition within the magnetic field of the coil. and when the coil isdepressed to a position surrounding the first named core the same isener- Y gized and when the coil is returned toits former spring biasedposition the said core is operated against said collar and in contactwith this second named core thereby unseating said inner valve.

4. In an electrically operated valve comprising in combination, a valvecasing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve orice intermediate theinlet and outlet having a valve seat, an inner valve adapted to engagesaid seat, an operating stem for said inner valve, a collar on saidstem, a core of magnetizable material mounted on said stem and freelyreclprocable between said collar and said inner valve, a second core oimagnetizable material freely mounted at the opposite end of said stemand supported on saidcollar in spaced relation to the iirst named core,a tube oi nonmagnetic material mounted vertically on said valve casingin axial alignment with the inner valve and its operating stem, amagnetic pole piece closing the upper end of said tube, a solenoid coilslidable on said tube, spring means adapted to bias said coil in spacedrelation to thev said cores, an adjustable stop on said pole pieceagainst which coil is biased, means for connecting the coil to a sourceof electric current to energize the same whereby the second named coreis attracted to a position within the magnetic field of the coil, andmeans manually operated for depressing the coil to a positionsurrounding the first named core to energize the same, the arrangementbeing such that when the coil is returned to its former spring biasedposition the first named core is then operated against said collar andin contact with the second named core thereby effecting operation of theinner valve.

LINWOOD KIMBALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 905,136 Barnum Dec. l, 19082,187,834 Mantz Jan. 23, 1940 2,223,986 Eaton Dec. 3, 1940 2,291,599 RayAug. 4. 1942 2,297,626 Lennholm et al Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 103,518 Australia Mar. 3l, 1938 452,315 GreatBritain Aug. 20, 1936

